What better way to enjoy the cool winter evenings than by dining outdoors? There is no shortage of venues with terraces, some of which offer views of the waterfront and city skylines. Afshan Ahmed rounds up of some of the newest options available for alfresco dining in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Abu Dhabi
Bu
Located on the fourth floor of The Hub at World Trade Center Mall, Bu has one of the biggest roof terraces in the city, which is perfect for alfresco dining. The stylish venue recently reopened its outdoor dining and has a variety of brunches planned for the winter season. The terrace has separate seating areas for casual diners and fine-dining guests. The long sharing tables make the brunches a community affair, while the four-seater swing set and the nautical-style booths, with fairy lights hanging above, are great spots for after-work socialising. Their pan-Latin menu includes the regular Fiesta del Sol brunch and Dest!nat!on dinners, along with a new street market-style brunch that includes an outdoor barbecue, live cooking stations and Latin beats.
• Call 02 666 8066 or email reservations@butrinity.com; www.butrinity.com
Abu Dhabi
Roberto’s
Enjoy the waterfront vista on Al Maryah Island from the terrace at Roberto’s Abu Dhabi, while a live DJ sets the mood. The restaurant, which recently opened at the Rosewood Hotel, The Galleria Mall, has a terrace that is climate- controlled to help ease diners into the new season. The Italian-style indoor seating and terrace were designed by international award-winning designer Paul Bishop but it is the menu, developed by executive chef Francesco Guarracino, that will keep you coming back for more.
• Call 02 627 9009 or email reservationsauh@robertos.ae; www.robertos.ae
Abu Dhabi
Tamba
As the sun sets over the capital, the party begins on Tamba Abu Dhabi’s outdoor terrace. The restaurant, in the World Trade Centre Mall, will host Rooftop Sundowners every Friday, featuring live entertainment from a DJ and saxophone player Matt West. Diners can enjoy brunch from 4pm until 7pm, with a selection of signature dishes in canapé-style and beverages for Dh220.
• Call 02 6728 888; www.tambarestaurant.com
Abu Dhabi
Eclipse
This venue, at the Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi, offers impressive views over the water at Al Maryah Island, which help to make it the perfect spot to spend a winter’s evening in the capital. The urban-inspired vibe includes a resident DJ, who spins an eclectic set of dynamic and soft tunes. The new à la carte menu focuses on fresh flavours and locally sourced ingredients, including oysters and hammour. A bites menu is served from 7pm until 12am, and there is an inventive mocktail menu.
• Call 02 333 2222; www.fourseasons.com/abudhabi
Dubai
Aji
Sample fusion flavours while taking in the skyline of Dubai at the newly-opened Aji on The Palm. The Peruvian-Japanese restaurant at Club Vista Mare on The Palm has an amber-lit terrace with an eclectic playlist for guests to enjoy all night long. You’ll be served a handcrafted Nikkei-style menu, designed by Japanese-born, Peruvian-raised head chef Eric Fernando, and shaken cocktails in a laid-back setting. Open from Saturday to Wednesday from noon to 2am and until 3am on Friday.
• 04 552 0244; www.aji.ae
Dubai
Burj Al Arab Terrace
Take your outdoor dining and socialising to a whole new level at the Burj Al Arab Terrace. Marrying a futuristic design that becomes one with the waters of the Arabian Gulf with top-notch hospitality, this terrace has two pools, dedicated butler-serviced cabanas and a beach area with sunbeds. The Scape Restaurant ensures that those in attendance are fed globally-inspired dishes and beverages. The terrace extends 100 metres out into the sea, and is linked by a central walkway that takes the form of a tropical-forest canopy.
• Call 04 301 7400 or email BAAReservations@jumeirah.com; www.jumeirah.com
Dubai
Al Falamanki
This restaurant, a hidden gem along the Jumeirah 2 strip, has a new terrace. The food and ambience at Al Falamanki Dubai have been tailored to transport diners to the streets of Beirut. Lebanese comfort food is served in an outdoor setting lined with trees and plants in Nido condensed milk tins to evoke a traditional homely feel. Diners can also unwind over shisha and games at the restaurant.
• www.alfalamanki.com
Dubai
Pai Thai
Begin your romantic dining experience with an abra ride across Madinat Jumeirah before arriving at Pai Thai. As the weather cools, the restaurant’s outdoor-seating area comes alive, with diners having access to an exclusive courtyard where they can enjoy a more intimate evening with loved ones. The classic Thai menu includes soups, meat, seafood and curries with distinctive Oriental herbs and spices. The restaurant organises the Feast of Xahar every Friday and Saturday for Dh195, with a menu by head chef Aphichat Amatmontri.
• Call 04 432 3232 or email restaurants@jumeirah.com; www.jumeirah.com
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
